Scholastic’s Graphix imprint will launch a new Geronimo Stilton series in May with The Sewer Rat Stink, a graphic adaptation of a Geronimo Stilton story that has been published in Italy but never in the U.S.  The artist for the project is Tom Angleberger, author of the Origami Yoda series of hybrid graphic novel/chapter books.  The first in a planned series, The Sewer Rat Stink is scheduled to be released as a hardcover on May 6 with an MSRP of $12.99.

Geronimo Stilton is the star of a series of children’s books that were originally published in Italy.  Scholastic has been publishing these books in the U.S. since 2004, and the children’s graphic novel publisher Papercutz published 19 Geronimo Stilton graphic novels in English between 2009 and 2017 (see "Top 10 Kids & Tweens GN Properties – Spring 2014").  Papercutz is now repackaging those graphic novels in 3-in-1 omnibus editions, and it also publishes two spinoffs, the Thea Stilton graphic novels and Geronimo Stilton Reporter, a graphic novel series based on the Netflix show of the same name.

In The Sewer Rat Stink, Geronimo Stilton and his detective friend Hercule go underground, literally, exploring the sewers of Mouse Island to ferret out the source of an objectionable odor that has been discomfiting the residents of New Mouse City.  Angleberger’s take on the character is very different from previous graphic novel adaptations: While the art in the Papercutz graphic novels (many of which were produced in Italy) has a very similar look to the illustrations in the chapter books, Anglesberger’s art is simpler and more cartoony, reminiscent of the best-selling Graphix series Dog Man.